About the author

Born in Hampshire, England, in 1950, I was educated at the Peter Symonds' Grammar School for boys in Winchester. From 1969 to 1973 I studied European languages and literature at Oxford University, and I had a nine-years career in language teaching in the UK before moving to Brussels to become a translator, editor and speechwriter for the European Commission. So I have a keen interest in language learning, and in European affairs, and that’s clearly reflected in “The Personal and Private Notebook, of Kevin Jones (Age 15 ½)”.

I had an unusual upbringing. My parents and most of my relatives were members of the Plymouth Brethren – a fundamentalist Christian movement that took the Bible literally and kept aloof from mainstream society and from other churches. It was almost a sect. That upbringing had long-lasting effects on me, emotionally and psychologically, and of course it gave me a keen interest in theology and philosophy, which is why I wrote “Beyond Belief”.

I am nowadays a member of Humanists UK, supporting their efforts to promote a more rational, humane and tolerant society. I believe we need to educate young people in critical thinking, and we should be encouraging honest, open-minded conversations about religion between people of all faiths and none.